Tuesday March 12, 20137:00pm – 8:30pm
Tuesday March 12, 2013
7:00pm – 8:30pm
| This is YOUR industry award show! Join us at the ICA CATIE Awards and Event Solutions Spotlight Awards during the Catersource Conference & Tradeshow. This presentation will be attended by the Who’s Who of the catering and events world and is a great opportunity to rub shoulders with and be a part of the leaders and innovators who are shaping the industry. €€
Feel the excitement as you eagerly await the announcement of this year's winners in categories such as Best Buffet Presentations & Menu, Best New Food Concept, Innovative Mixology, Event Planner of the Year and Chef of the Year. Then celebrate the success of our industry at a cash bar networking reception immediately following the presentation.€ €This event is included with your registration. |
Learn more about the Event Solutions Spotlight Awards |
Executive Producer Eddie Diaz of Encore Creations, based in Orlando, FL will be at the helm of the 2013 awards presentation, and he’s planning a full evening of celebration, festivities and eye-popping experiences which will be sure to inspire your own events. We sat down with Eddie to get a taste of what’s to come.
What is your creative vision for this event?
The 2013 Event Solutions Spotlight and ICA CATIE Awards promise to be the most anticipated gathering of some of the finest and the best event experts in the special event and catering industries. The fast-paced awards show will be full of energy and will evoke excitement from the moment guests enter. Prepare to leave your inhibitions behind and discover what lies behind the red curtains—laughter, recognition and celebration. We are rolling out the Tapis Rouge!
Tell us about the theme and how you came up with the idea.
Tapis Rouge is the French translation for red carpet. The Spotlight and CATIEs is an environment that welcomes diversity, exemplifies creativity and boldly celebrates the special events industry. I wanted to highlight the simple pleasures, of walking on the red carpet in your best cocktail dress or jacket while sipping on a cocktail. Tapis Rouge is all about seeing and being seen—rubbing shoulders with industry celebrities and being part of history in the making.
Are there any hints you can give us about what we'll experience that evening?
Tapis Rouge will be an avant-garde cabaret experience that combines many elements. Guests will experience a vibrant showroom set in red and gold and an evening that guarantees to provoke, invoke and evoke! From its golden tassels to the finalists’ special VIP seating, Tapis Rouge will capture the sophistication and sexiness of the old days’ red curtain cabarets and the contemporary vibes of performance-driven clubs.
You were a Spotlight Award winner in 2010. How did this affect you professionally and personally?
I had the privilege and honor to be recognized as Event Producer of the Year in 2010. Perhaps one of the most gratifying aspects of winning is the immediate recognition by associates and peers—not to mention the rush you get when your name is called! In a split second, as you hold your award in front of all your colleagues, you realize all your hard work and challenges you’ve overcome are recognized and applauded. That is life changing.
I still remember my first Rising Star Spotlight Award in 2006. I cried so much and so hard that I couldn’t get a word out, forgot all my thank yous and was shaking with joy for hours. It is an amazing feeling! Being a finalist and a winner also helps assure clients that they are dealing with someone who is committed to excellence and is recognized in the industry as a leader. That is powerful and translates into dollars.
What excites you most about Las Vegas and the Mirage?
What excites me the most about Las Vegas is the ever-changing newness. I enjoy coming back year after year to experience the latest and the greatest. Las Vegas offers so many options to choose from. From the low end to the high end, there is something for every demographic and budget. But between you and me, it’s all about the shows. I love entertainment and love cirque shows.
The Mirage is also another favorite spot of mine, because I love the Siegfried and Roy Gardens. The Mirage is an iconic hotel and one that erupts every night with passion. The tropical setting and the scented infused lobby makes me smile every time I get there. I am definitely excited about seeing the Event Solutions conference there. Its intimate space and ease to get around are going to be a major plus.
